Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I, too, extend a welcome to our guests in the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their evening in Leinster House.

Getting back to the business at hand, I thank Senator Murnane O'Connor, who seconded the Bill, for her support. I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate for the support they have shown in respect of the legislation. I acknowledge the Minister's comments, which were quite comprehensive. Senator Murnane O'Connor put her finger on it when she stated that it is sad and depressing that we have to discuss this legislation at all. It is sad that people do not have more respect for those who protect us.

When drafting the Bill, I gathered statistics from various emergency worker sources. I compliment all those to whom I have spoken for the information they provided. Unfortunately, they are all of the one mind in that they feel the statistics provided would make a strong case in support of more firm sentencing for people who assault emergency workers. I fully appreciate that the Bill is not the final draft in any shape or form, but it is a genuine attempt to address the concerns of those emergency workers who we, as a society, are fortunate to have and who put their lives at risk on occasion. Unfortunately, as Senator O'Mahony outlined, this sometimes has devastating consequences in that they lose their own lives.

There is an onus on us to put in place firm protections and send out a strong message to the effect that we will not tolerate anyone who assaults an emergency worker in the course of his or her duty and that there will be major repercussions for those who cross the line in this regard. That is a key message in behind the Bill.

I look forward to working with all my colleagues and the Minister and his staff to make this Bill as secure as we possibly can in the ambition we all have to put in place firm protections for those who protect us.